VCU researchers predict drinking habits at infancy

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RICHMOND, Va (WTVR) -- Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University say their long-term studies indicate, children under the age of five with behavioral issues are more likely to experiment with alcohol by the time they reach 15.

More than 12,000 participants took part in the study. They were assessed from six months to five years of age and then again at 15 years. Researchers say subjects who identified themselves as drinkers were also behaving badly as infants.

“Kids who are having difficulty, this shows up very early in childhood and that's when we see these kids continuing to have difficulty and then it manifesting into elevated rates of alcoholism at adolescence," lead researcher, Danielle Dick told CBS 6,

However, Dick says, it’s not just kids behaving badly at risk of using alcohol early, but those who are highly sociable. She says this research should be used to develop prevention systems to combat teen binge drinking.

The full study will be published in December. Click on the video above for Lorenzo Hall's report.